How Much Is My Truck Accident Claim Worth? z

 Posted on February 21, 2025 in Truck Accidents

As of February 19th, 2025, preliminary data for 2024 reveals that 6,673 Illinois traffic accidents involved large trucks. These crashes caused 3,191 injuries and 147 fatalities. A personal injury or wrongful death claim can provide compensation for injured victims or their families after a truck accident, and one of the first questions claimants have is how much their case is worth.

It would be great if we could give you an average settlement amount, but no such thing exists. Your Cook County, IL truck accident lawyer has to examine your case’s unique factors carefully before we can tell you how much compensation you should receive. We offer free consultations to assess your eligibility for filing a claim and explain your legal options.

What Are Damages in a Truck Accident Claim?

Truck accidents usually result in financial and intangible losses, called damages. The term "damages" also refers to the money you could receive because of those losses. All victims’ eligible damages are unique, but your financial losses probably include medical treatment expenses, property damage, and lost income. You might also have other accident-related costs, such as paying someone to care for your daily needs.

Non-economic damages offer compensation for the intangible effects of your truck crash, including pain and suffering, lost enjoyment of life, and the emotional impacts of disfigurement or disability. In some cases, you might also be awarded punitive damages. While economic and non-economic damages reflect your losses, punitive damages are intended to deter the defendant from similar conduct in the future and as further punishment.

How Can My Attorney Calculate My Damages?

First, we will assess all your losses to list all your eligible damages. The value of your economic damages uses case-specific factors that include:

• The total of your medical bills, including medications, hospital stays, rehabilitation, medical equipment, and transportation costs

• Anticipated future medical expenses related to your truck accident

• The costs of repairing or replacing your car and other personal property damaged in your truck accident

• How much income you could have earned while you were out of work during your recovery

• Whether you will be able to return to work, associated with diminished earning capacity

• Expenses related to home or vehicle modifications needed to accommodate a new disability from your truck crash

Damages for someone who sustains minor injuries are usually much less than for victims who suffer catastrophic injuries that leave them permanently disabled and unable to work. That is why it is impossible to give you an idea of how much your case is worth before totaling your expenses.

Non-economic damages are not tied to specific expenses. A general rule is that the more significantly your accident impacts your quality of life, the higher your non-economic damages may be.

Finally, we need to consider your degree of fault for causing your truck accident. Although you can still collect compensation in Illinois if your assigned fault is less than 50 percent, your damages will be reduced by the same percentage. For example, if your total damages are $200,000 and you are 25 percent at fault, 75 percent or $150,000 is the most you can obtain.

Wrongful death claims may qualify for additional damages, including funeral and burial costs and the losses the victim’s family experiences.

Without an attorney who knows how to evaluate your eligible damages and calculate your case’s worth, you might be left with a minimal settlement offer that does not fully address your losses.

Call Our Skilled Chicago, IL Truck Accident Lawyer

When a truck accident harms you, a dedicated Rolling Meadows, IL personal injury attorney from Adler Law Offices, LTD can help you pursue the maximum available amount of compensation. Call 312-236-2700 or contact us online today.